PhillyPolice Blog

$40,000 Reward Offered in the ONLY Unsolved Murder of a Philadelphia Police Officer

On January 30, 1970, Officer Frederick Cione was fatally shot while patrolling on the 1700 block of West Oxford Street in North Philadelphia. The 25-year old officer, on the job for just one year, was working in what was then the 23rd district.

To date, Officer Cione’s killing remains the ONLY unsolved murder of a Philadelphia Police Officer. January 30, 2014, will mark the 44th anniversary of his death.

$40,000 Reward

As this tragic anniversary approaches, the Philadelphia Police Department has announced the posting of a $10,000 “Safe Cop Reward” by the National Police Defense Foundation. The City of Philadelphia is offering $20,000 and the Fraternal Order of Police is offering $10,000. The $40,000 reward is for the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Officer Frederick Cione’s murder.

Officer Cione’s Family

Three of Officer Cione’s family members became Philadelphia police officers after his death. Officer Frederick Cione’s brother, Nick Sr. joined the department in November 1970 and retired after 36 years of service. Two of Officer Cione’s nephews, Nick Jr. and Vince are currently sergeants in the department.

The Safe Cop Program

The Safe Cop Program established in 1995 is a congressionally recognized law enforcement initiative of the National Police Defense Foundation that posts up to a $10,000 reward for public information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who shoots at a law enforcement officer, anywhere in the United States.

The “Safe Cop” criteria for reward payment, mandates a conviction for the armed assault of a law enforcement officer and a prosecutor’s certification that the public information was instrumental in the arrest and conviction of the defendant.

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the nation's fourth largest police department, with over 6600 sworn members and 800 civilian personnel. The PPD is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for serving Philadelphia County, extending over 140 square-miles in which approximately 1.5 million reside.